Honeybush
Cyclopia intermedia
Herbs & Roots. African.
Also called Honeybush tea, Honey bush
Honeybush is a South African shrub whose stems and leaves are made into a naturally sweet tea with no caffeine.
Did you know? Honeybush tea tastes sweet and honey-like without any added sugar, which is where the name comes from.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Inflammation. Lab studies show antioxidant activity. Human proof for swelling or pain is limited.Traditional proof
- Heart health. Lab work suggests the plant's antioxidants may protect blood vessels. Human heart proof is limited.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
People in South Africa's Western and Eastern Cape have long made honeybush into a tea. It is now grown on farms and sold in blends.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Antioxidant, Nutritive. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Steep one to two teaspoons of dried honeybush in hot water for five to ten minutes. Most people drink one to three cups a day.
Tea.
Where to get it
Grown on farms, and some is still wild-harvested, in South Africa's Western and Eastern Cape. Sold as loose tea, tea bags, and blends, in green (unfermented) and black (fermented) forms.
Be careful
Honeybush is generally safe as a tea and has no caffeine. Little safety research exists, so keep to normal tea amounts. Check with a doctor before drinking large amounts if you are pregnant.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both are South African caffeine-free teas, and they are often blended.
The honest take
Honeybush is a pleasant, caffeine-free tea with natural sweetness and antioxidants. Its health claims come from lab and early animal studies, and human research is very thin. Enjoy it as a drink, not as a medicine.